The 10th Bhagyachandra national festival of classical dance 2014 was inaugurated by chief minister Okram Ibobi at a solemn function at Shree Shree Gopinath-ji temple Ningthoukhong yesterday afternoon. 

The festival organised triennially is a tribute to the saint king of Manipur Rajarshi, the creator of the unique Raas leela. The festival was organised for the first time in 1989 at the historic Kangla. The highlight of the inauguration was the Nat Sankirtana by the Gurus and artists of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy and Maha Raas performed artists, Gurus and students of Govt dance college. 

The main performance of the festival will be held at the Kangla from the 7th to 9th of this month. Renown classical dancers drawn from various of India including Manipuri classical dancers will perform solo daily.  

In his opening address, O Ibobi expressed the hope that the festival would help in promoting the priceless gift of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra to the whole world.